US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he would impose a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films, marking the first time his restrictive trade policies have been extended to the entertainment industry.
In his post on the Truth Social platform, Trump claimed the American film industry was dying a “very fast death” due to incentives offered by foreign countries to lure US filmmakers.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs, culminating in his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs introduced on April 2. They target more than 90 US trade partners. Most were paused for 90 days, though a baseline 10% remains in effect. China was excluded from the pause and was hit with a tax of 145% on all imports. Beijing retaliated with 125% tariffs and new export controls on US goods.
Trump said he had directed agencies, including the Commerce Department, to begin “immediately” imposing a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films entering the US.
“We’re on it,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X. It remains unclear, however, whether the measure would target foreign studios, US companies filming abroad, or both.
The US president also framed foreign film productions as a national security threat, asserting that other countries were using cinema as a vehicle for “messaging and propaganda.”
“WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he declared.
Trump’s post came after weekend meetings at his Mar-a-Lago Club with actor Jon Voight and his manager, Steven Paul, Bloomberg said citing people familiar with the matter. They reportedly presented the president with their plans for more federal tax incentives for US film and TV production.
In January, Trump appointed Voight, along with actors Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone, as special ambassadors to Hollywood to help promote US job growth in the entertainment sector.
Hollywood production has been increasingly shifting overseas, as countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand expand tax incentives to attract film and TV projects.
Film and television production in Los Angeles has declined by nearly 40% over the past decade, according to FilmLA, the region’s film office.
The trend has contributed to a decline in US-based shoots, with studios seeking lower costs and bigger rebates abroad. According to Ampere Analysis, global content spending is expected to hit $248 billion in 2025, driven largely by streaming platforms – further fueling the push for more affordable production hubs.
Trump’s move follows China’s decision last month to “moderately reduce” the number of Hollywood films permitted in the country, a retaliatory step against his aggressive tariff policies.
William Reinsch, a former senior Commerce official and CSIS fellow, warned that retaliation against Trump’s film measures could be devastating.
“We have a lot more to lose than to gain,” he told Reuters, adding that justifying tariffs on national security or emergency grounds would be difficult.
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